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The 450 People Who Signed a Letter Asking for the New York Times Graphic Novel Bestseller List Back
A year ago, the New York Times Book Review stopped their comic book bestseller lists, measuring sales of graphic novels in bookstores, promising an expansion of coverage of comics at the journal. This has not happened.
450 publishing and literary figures have co-signed a letter to the New York Times Book Review stating:
The bestseller list is not the be-all-end-all of comics publishing, nor is it an indicator of literary quality, but it does help with the visibility of our medium, and thus helps advance comics as serious literature. The list plays an indispensable role in helping new readers discover books and making the storytelling that we love more visible in the cultural conversation about literature. Without the list, it's harder for us to sell books, which makes it more challenging for publishers to take chances on new voices.
Each graphic novel is the product of a time-consuming, and often expensive struggle on the part of many people whose livelihood depends upon the book finding readers. If sales suffer, how will a young author get the support she needs to tell a new story? And what about the livelihood of the publishing professionals who ensure that what ultimately ends up on the shelf is of the highest quality?
We urge you to review the names at the bottom of this letter. We are award-winning comic book writers and artists, cartoonists, and graphic novelists. We are book publishers, editors, literary agents, and store owners. We are librarians, teachers, and journalists. We have written many readers' favorite books. Our stories have been adapted for screens large and small. Your children might carry a lunchbox to school with one of our characters on it. Many of us are Times subscribers.
And here they all are…
- Charlie Olsen, Literary Agent, InkWell Management
- Charles Kochman, Editorial Director, Abrams ComicArts
- Raina Telgemeier, Cartoonist
- Cassandra Pelham Fulton, Senior Editor, Scholastic/Graphix
- Greg Pak, Writer
- Nate Powell, Cartoonist
- Leigh Walton, Editor, Publicist, Top Shelf Comix
- Box Brown, Artist
- Chip Kidd, Writer, Designer, Editor-at-Large for Pantheon Graphic Novels
- Jeff Lemire, Writer, Artist
- Jeff Kinney, Author, Diary of a Wimpy Kid
- Michael Jacobs, President and CEO, ABRAMS
- Michael Pietsch, CEO, Hachette Book Group
- Molly Knox Ostertag, Cartoonist
- Justin McElroy, Author, The Adventure Zone
- Chris Ryall, Chief Creative Officer, IDW Publishing
- Cullen Bunn, Writer
- Filip Sablik, President of Publishing & Marketing, BOOM! Studios
- Karen Green, Curator for Comics and Cartoons, Columbia University
- Reza Farazmand, Cartoonist, Poorly Drawn Lines
- Jeff Stokely, Artist, Writer
- Carey Pietsch, Cartoonist
- Daniel Chabon, Editor, Dark Horse Comics
- Rich Johnson, Publisher, Lion Forge Comics
- Seth Fishman, Literary Agent, The Gernert Company; Writer
- Ryan North, Writer
- Andrea Colvin, VP, Executive Editor, Lion Forge Comics
- Karen Berger, Editor, Berger Books/Dark Horse Comics
- Camille Kellogg, Editorial Assistant, HarperCollins
- Jeffrey Brown, Cartoonist
- Matt Silady, Chair, MFA in Comics Program, California College of the Arts
- Rob Valois, Editor, New York Times Bestseller Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel, Penguin Workshop
- Michelle Brower, Literary Agent, Aevitas Creative
- Julia Wertz, Cartoonist
- David Saylor, VP, Publisher of the Graphix Imprint
- Menachem Luchins, Store Owner, Escape Pod Comics, Hungtington, NY
- Thomas Knowlton, School Outreach Librarian, New York Public Library
- Robin Herrera, Senior Editor, Oni Press
- Emily Bestler, Editor-in-Chief, Senior VP, Emily Bestler Books
- Patrick Barb, Editor, Ten Speed Press
- Brandon Montclare, Writer
- Chad Luibl, Literary Agent, Janklow & Nesbit
- Kelly Fitzpatrick, Colorist of Bitch Planet and Shade the Changing Girl
- Ed Schlesinger, Senior Editor, Gallery 13
- Adam Wilson, Senior Editor, Gallery 13
- Aubrey Sitterson, Writer
- Neil Kleid, Writer
- Niki Smith, Cartoonist
- Michael Homler, Senior Editor, St. Martins Press
- Andrew Weiner, CEO, Inner Station
- Sarah Gaydos, Group Editor, IDW Publishing
- Magdalene Visaggio, Writer
- Sean Berard, Agent, APA
- James Lucas Jones, Oni Press
- Pablo Clark, Artist
- Katie Skelly, Artist
- Maarta Laiho, Artist
- Nicole Goux, Writer and Artist
- Chris Schweizer, Author
- Linda Camacho, Literary Agent, Gallt & Zacker
- Cat Farris, Artist
- Sara Goetter, Writer and Artist
- Alison Wilgus, Writer, Cartoonist
- Andrea Bell, Artist
- Rachel Dukes, Cartoonist
- Jen Bartel, Artist
- Dave Baker, Writer
- Tyler Crook, Artist
- Michael Lark, Artist
- Alex de Campi, Writer
- Van Jensen, Writer
- Ezra Claytan Daniels, Writer, Artist
- Brian Fies, Writer, Artist
- Amber Garza, Director of International Licensing, Sequential
- Jonathan Baylis, Artist
- Sara Alfageeh, Writer, Artist
- Tyler Cohen, Cartoonist
- Dara Hyde, Literary Agent, Hill Nadell Literary Agency
- Karen Luk, Artist, Teacher
- Eric Kim, Artist
- Katie Proctor, Owner, Books with Pictures, Portland OR
- Sean Rubin, Writer, Artist
- Maia Kobabe, Cartoonist
- Jeff Whitman, Editor, Papercutz
- Samuel Sattin, Writer
- Cardner Clark, Associate Editor, DC Books for Young Readers
- Chris Hunt, Writer, Artist
- Mariah Huehner, Writer, Artist
- Stu West, Artist
- Brian Christensen, Owner, Brian's Comics, Petaluma, CA
- Simon Hanselman, Artist, New York Times Bestseller
- Jenn St-Onge, Artist
- Lee Cherolis, Writer, Artist
- Chris Grine, Writer, Artist
- Mary Pender, Agent, United Talent Agency
- Nicole Gustafsson, Artist
- Dr. Damian Duffy, Writer, Editor, scholar
- Lea Hernandez Seidman, Writer, Artist
- Rian Sygh, Artist
- Melanie Gillman, Artist
- Matt Roth, Writer
- Tee Franklin, Writer
- Leef Smith, Retailer
- Pranas T. Naujokaitis, Writer, Artist
- Jen Hickman, Artist
- Alexis Hurley, Literary Agent, InkWell Management
- Christophe Pettus, Writer, Publisher
- Dan Mishkin, Writer
- Stephanie Zuppo, Cartoonist, Comics Studio Owner
- Nicola Scott, Artist
- Meredith Wallace, Former Image Comics Employee
- Steve Ellis, Writer, Artist
- Maytal Gilboa, Publisher, Emet Entertainment
- Joey Esposito, Writer
- Santosh Oommen, Artist/Writer
- Terry Nantier, Publisher, NBM
- John Lind, Co-Founder & Creative Director; Kitchen, Lind & Associates LLC
- Kevin Jay Stanton, Artist
- Dimitrios Fragiskatos, Store Owner
- Dustin Nguyen, Artist
- Keith Champagne, Writer, Artist
- Ben Zhu Gallery, Shop Owner, Artist
- Andy Smith, Artist
- Sean Caylor, QC operator
- Jimmy Palmiotti, Writer, Artist, Publisher
- Michael Goodwin, Writer
- Peter Tomasi, Writer
- Hannah Templer, Artist
- Nicholas Doan, Writer
- Jennifer Camper, Cartoonist
- Steven Sautter, Writer
- Melody Often, Artist
- Bridget Comeau, Cartoonist
- Denis Kitchen, Cartoonist and Publisher
- MK Reed, Writer
- Richard Pine, Literary Agent, InkWell Management
- Daniel S Demumbrum, Publisher, Spaz Dog Press
- Michael Tisserand, Writer
- Jordan Cooper, Reader, Writer
- Zachary Clemente, Writer
- Noah Hayes, Artist
- Patrick W Brower, Store Owner
- Brandy Macek, Artist
- Rosie Knight, Writer, Critic
- Andrew Carl, Writer, Editor
- Paul Reinwand, Artist
- Paul C. Morrissey, Writer, Eisner Award-winning Editor
- Travis Nichols, Writer, Artist
- Josh PM Frees, Artist
- Alex Graudins, Cartoonist
- Joe Payne, Artist
- Sarah Winifred Searle, Cartoonist
- Shaun Steven Struble, Writer
- Marguerite Dabaie, Artist
- Meggie Ramm, Cartoonist, Comics Teacher
- Tom Taylor, Author
- Sage Coffey, Artist, Editor
- Janet Lee, Artist
- Jake Wyatt, Writer, Artist
- Kenneth Denson, Store Owner
- Steve Orlando, Writer, Editor
- Eli Bishop, Artist, Writer
- Frank Barbiere, Writer
- Jody Houser, Writer
- Samia Fakih, Artist and Writer
- James Tynion IV, Comic Book Writer
- Joe Brown, Artist
- Robert Negrete, Artist
- Ryan Estrada, Artist, Writer
- Alyce Sarich, Artist
- Joel Rose, Writer
- Vita Ayala, Writer
- Alisa Harris, Cartoonist, Animator
- Robert Venditti, Writer
- Ted Closson, Artist, Writer
- Jodi Wynne, Letterer
- Rebecca Mock, Comic Book Artist, Illustrator
- Jessica Mileo, Literary Agent, InkWell Management
- Stephen Barbara, Literary Agent, InkWell Management
- Angela De Vito, Artist
- Rex Ogle, Senior Editor, Little Brown for Young Readers; Writer
- Kevin Panetta, Writer
- Cameron Krause, Filmmaker, Titmouse
- Jen Linnan, Literary Agent, Linnan Literary Management
- Justin Offner, Artist
- Nick Sampson, Animator
- Madeleine White, Artist
- Simon Barreto, Lead Editor, Titmouse
- Dennis Moran, Illustrator, Animator
- Gabriel Pinto, Artist
- Gracie Rothey, Artist
- Christine Fellmeth, Animator, Titmouse; Artist
- Alex Reynolds, Artist
- Blue Delliquanti, Artist, Writer
- Leland Goodman, Graphic Novelist and Illustrator
- Sam Alden, Cartoonist
- Carly Monardo, Artist, Nickelodeon
- Ilana Turner, Writer, PR Coordinator, Superfan PR
- Marika McCoola, Writer, Bookseller, Educator
- Taneka Stotts, Writer
- Sloane Leong, Cartoonist
- Phil McAndrew, Writer, Illustrator
- Katie Klein, Artist
- Rachel Gitlevich, Artist
- Luke Freitag, Artist
- Cynthia Halley, Visual Development Artist, Background Designer, Titmouse; Illustrator
- Thomas Mcdonnell, Artist
- Savannah Ward, Assistant, Titmouse
- Jillian Goldfluss, Writer
- Kevin Reed, Storyboard Artist
- Kat Ruzics, Animator
- Simon Howe, Animator, Comics Artist
- Christopher Hastings, Writer
- Tze Chun, Writer
- Barry Kelly, Artist
- Jonathan Peartree, Animator
- Regina Mascia, Director, West Hempstead Public Library
- Christopher Graybill, Artist
- Tillie Sain, Storyboard Artist
- Bill Griffith, Nationally-syndicated Cartoonist, Eisner Award-winning Author
- Patrick Gleason, Writer, Artist
- Bobby Walker, Artist
- Shannon Prynoski, Animation Studio Owner
- Jerzy Drozd, Cartoonist
- Vivek J. Tiwary, Writer, Producer
- Leon Ingram, Artist
- Claire Draper, Literary Agent, InkWell Management
- Johnny Koester, Animator, Titmouse
- Susie Cagle, Journalist, Cartoonist
- J Honore, Animator
- Sierra Barnes, Comic Book Creator
- Adam Yeater, Artist, Publisher
- Deborah Hill, Literary Agent, APA
- Michelle Silva, Comic Creator
- Lauren Davis, Artist, Writer, Editor
- Peter Maresca, Editor/Publisher, Sunday Press
- Sam Marlow, Background Designer
- Robert Chambers LeHeup, Writer
- Matt Gagnon, Editor-in-Chief, BOOM! Studios
- Colleen Venable, Writer of Comics, Creative Director at Macmillan Publishing
- Pamela Ribon, Writer
- Stephen McCranie, Cartoonist
- Heidi MacDonald, Editor-in-Chief, The Comics Beat
- Bryce Carlson, Managing Editor, BOOM! Studios
- Chris Sheridan, Cartoonist
- Megan Peace, Editor, Scholastic
- Leda Zawacki, Comic Artist
- Phil Falco, Executive Art Director, Scholastic
- Adam Rau, Editor, Scholastic
- Corey Chrapuch, Artist, Designer
- Becky Dreistadt, Artist
- Frank Gibson, Writer
- Whitney Leopard, Editor, BOOM! Studios
- Greg Ruth, Artist, Writer
- Allen Spiegel, Agent, Allen Spiegel Fine Arts
- Anamika Bhatnagar, Associate Publisher, Graphix/Scholastic
- Christian Alamy, Artist
- David Linker, Executive Editor, HarperCollins
- Zach Davis
- Jill Yeomans, Store Owner, White Whale Bookstore, Pittsburgh, PA
- Betsy Peterschmidt, Author, Illustrator
- Brandon T. Snider, Writer
- Camilla Zhang, Writer, Editor
- Libby Burton, Senior Editor, Henry Holt
- Fred Van Lente, Writer
- Kate Napolitano, Editor, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Alexandra West, Editor
- Megan Roth, Editor
- Lauren Clauss, Editorial Assistant, Disney
- Erin Zimring, Editor, Disney
- Gavin Gronenthal, Assistant Editor, BOOM! Studios
- Joe LeFavi, Publisher, Genuine Entertainment
- Michael Moccio, Assistant Editor, BOOM! Studios
- Grace Park, Artist, Writer, Designer
- Cornelia Tzana, Assistant, BOOM! Studios
- Spencer Simpson, Sales Manager
- Leigh Dragoon, Writer, Artist
- Elizabeth Loughridge, Accounting Coordinator, BOOM! Studios
- Morgan Perry, Direct Market Representative, BOOM! Studios
- Stephanie Hocutt, Social Media Coordinator
- Lucas Devine
- David J. Sung, Writer
- Lorena Jones, Editor, Publisher, Lorena Jones Books/Ten Speed Press
- Melissa Leuterio, Artist
- Olga Andreyeva, Illustrator
- Giuseppe Castellano, Art Director, Illustrator, Designer
- Nick Tapalansky, Writer
- John Morgan, Executive Editor, Imprint/Macmillan
- LeUyen Pham, Artist
- Nidhi Chanani, Artist, Writer, Pashmina
- Illya Kowalchuk, Director of Education, Pop Culture Classroom and Denver Comic Con
- Tracy Edmunds, Educator
- John Shableski, VP of Sales, UDON Entertainment
- Colleen Bement, Journalist
- Alexis E. Fajardo, Cartoonist, Author
- Ellen Myrick, Library Consultant, Diamond Book Distributors
- Jim McClain, Creator, Publisher
- Meg Lemke, Editor
- Matthew Holm, Author, Illustrator
- Katharine Kan, Librarian, Graphic Novel Reviewer
- Yaika Sabat, Library Assistant
- Christina Hicks, Youth Services Librarian, Co-Chair of EGL Awards Adult Jury
- John Weaver, English Teacher
- Adan Alvarado, Secondary Teacher
- Paula Myers, Librarian
- Caitlyn Zaksheske, High School Librarian
- Lisa Prolman, Librarian
- Judd Winick, Cartoonist
- Francisca Goldsmith, Librarian
- Susy Moorhead, Librarian
- Marcela Peres, Library Director
- Kerry Halls, Head Buyer, Manager at Auntie's Bookstore, Spokane, WA
- Kelly Campbell, Librarian (Young Adult)
- Amy Ignatow, Author, Illustrator
- Marissa Thompson, Young Adult Librarian
- Raeann MacNeil, Librarian
- Alicia Holston, Librarian
- Lisa D. Archigian, Artist, Librarian, Museum Educator
- Robert Gonzalez
- Jill Thompson, Artist, Writer, Eisner Award-Winning Creator
- Dr. Katie Monnin, Author, Word Play
- Saori Adams, Publisher
- Nicole Rancourt, Program Officer
- Moniqa Paullet, Editor, New York Times Subscriber, Reading Tutor
- Kay Lunkenheimer, Librarian
- Tina Dalton, Librarian
- Geo Ong, Bookstore Manager, Greenlight Bookstore, Brooklyn, NY
- John Driscoll, Young Adult Librarian
- Jared Leaman, Teacher
- Shannon Hale, Writer
- Stacey Shapiro, Librarian
- Anthony Buchanan, Librarian and Graphic Novel Discussion Group Moderator, Library Blogger
- Anne Salyards
- Patrick Race, Store Owner
- Catherine Blair, Librarian
- Lucia Cedeira Serantes, Assistant Professor, GSLIS, Queens College
- Zack Rosenberg, Writer, Editor
- Samantha Cote, Librarian
- Jill O'Connor, Librarian
- Karen Ginman, Librarian
- Martha Cornog, Graphic Novel Reviewer, Journalist, Advocate
- Howard Shapiro, Writer, Director of Publishing For Animal Media Group
- Cecil Castellucci, Writer
- Gale Galligan, Artist
- Anny Rusk, Writer
- Shea Fontana, Writer
- Jessica Schwartz, Librarian
- Tini Howard, Writer
- Devaki Neogi, Comics Artist
- Rina Ayuyang, Cartoonist
- Maria C. Ludwig, Editor
- Scott Robins, Librarian
- Carrie Tupper, Writer, Artist
- Lauren Knowlton, Elementary School Media Specialist
- Rachel Reed, Marketing Manager
- Crystal Frasier, Writer, Pathfinder: Spiral of Bones
- Seaerra Miller, Artist
- Davy Gibbs, Librarian
- Tasha Birckhead, Librarian
- Laura Robbins, Librarian
- Joan Hilty, Comics Editor, Nickelodeon
- Summer Dawn Laurie, Children's Bookseller, Editor, and Chair NCIBA Children's Alliance
- Lise Solomon, Publisher's Sales Rep
- Joel Butler, Librarian
- Cinda Meister, Book Store Owner
- Jessi Sheron, Illustrator
- Ilona Bray, Writer
- Terry Thompson, Writer
- Andrew Durham, Children's Specialist
- Suzi Hough, Bookstore Manager
- Sarah Stephens, Author, Editor, Bookseller
- Janet Harvey, Writer
- Morgan O'Reilly, Librarian
- Dani Colman, Writer
- Mary Ann Scheuer, Teacher, Librarian
- Barbara J Gogan, School Librarian
- Emily Saltzman, Librarian
- Amy Orringer, Merchandiser, Google Play Books
- Jenny McCluskey, Collection Development Librarian, Comics & Graphic Novels Specialist
- Jennifer DeRoss, Scholar
- Olivia Monical, Children's and Young Adult Book Specialist
- Chris Butcher, Store Manager
- Mary Richardson, Librarian
- Jim Ottaviani, Writer, Librarian
- Sheila Geraty, School Librarian
- Molly Jackson, Co-Editor, Mine! A Celebration of Love and Freedom For All
- Katrina L Hagedorn, Librarian
- Lindy S. Weaver, High School Librarian
- Gene Kannenberg, Jr., Ph.D., Comics Historian; Cartoonist
- Scott Faulkner, Artist, Writer
- Sheila Hammond-Todd, Librarian
- S.L. Johnson, Academic Librarian
- Bel McNeill, Owner, Bel And Bunna's Books, Lafayette, CA
- Melanie Deal, Artist
- Marc Singer, Associate Professor, Department of English, Howard University
- Laurel Cox, Reference Librarian
- Andrea Webster, Librarian
- Deborah Diesen
- Martha Thomases, Writer
- Erin Helmrich, Purchasing Librarian
- Mary Sheila McMahon, Bookseller
- Kelly Thompson, Writer
- Steven Ng, Book Scout, Stuart Ng Books
- Lucy Bellwood, Cartoonist
- George Webber, School Librarian
- Jessica Andrews, School Librarian
- Andrea Parisi, School Library Media Specialist
- Kyle Eveleth, Comics Studies Scholar
- Leland Purvis, Illustrator
- Kristena Rudloff, School Librarian
- Dave Scheidt, Writer
- Leah Williams, Writer
- Chris A Campbell, Writer, reviewer
- Matthew Summo, Writer
- Dan Grote, Editor/Publisher, wmqcomics.com
- JD Korejko, Store Owner
- Holly Aitchison, Operations Coordinator, BOOM! Studios
- Molly Muldoon, Writer, Freelance Editor
- Damian Wassel, Publisher, Vault Comics
- Christianne Gillenardo-Goudreau, Artist, Senior Production Technician
- Jeffrey Rousseau, Writer
- Dwight L. MacPherson, Writer, editor
- Cameron DeOrdio, Writer
- Miles Greb, Writer, Producer
- Caitlin Rose Boyle, Artist
- David Pepose, Writer
- Stacey Shapiro, Young Adult Librarian
- Emma Hunsinger, Artist
- Alisha Jade, Creator, Publisher
- Ru Xu, Artist-Author
- Perry R Singletary Jr, Writer, Artist, Cartoonist
- Katie Schenkel, Writer
- Ted Brandt, Inker
- Ryan Dunlavey, Cartoonist and Writer
- Mike Levine, Writer
- Ele Jenkins, Artist and bookseller
- Irene Koh, Artist
- George Rohac, Manager
- Rebecca Miller, Comics Reader
- Skylar Patridge, Artist
- Raul Padilla, NYT Subscriber
- Robin Bardsley, Store Owner
- Beth Barnett, Artist
- Jeremy Holt, Writer
- Sumner Teleha, Artist
- Juliana Xavier, Sequential Artist, Illustrator
- Andrew Leamon, Writer
- Brad Brooks, Cartoonist, Editor, Publisher
- Param Singh, Writer, Reader
- Kyle Latino, Artist
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